Human Physiology - William F. Ganong 2002

Functions of the Nervous System
Cutaneous, Deep, and Visceral Sensibility
Proprioception

Proprioceptive information is transmitted upward via the dorsal columns of the Spinal Cord. A large volume of incoming proprioceptive information reaches the Cerebellum, while a portion passes through the medial lemnisci and thalamic projections to the cortex. Diseases of the posterior columns cause ataxia As a result of impaired transmission of proprioceptive impulses to the cerebellum.

There is evidence that proprioceptive information reaches conscious awareness via the anterolateral columns of the spinal cord. Conscious awareness of THE POSITION OF various body parts in space depends in part on impulses originating from Sensory Organs located in and around the joints. These organs include slowly adapting diffuse-type endings whose Structure resembles Golgi tendon organs, and possibly Pacinian corpuscles of the synovial membranes and ligaments. Impulses from these organs, cutaneous Touch receptors, and other Tissues, as well as from Muscle spindles, are synthesized in the Cerebral Cortex into an awareness of body position in space.

Microelectrode studies demonstrate that many Neurons in the sensory cortex respond to specific movements rather than merely to touch or static position. In this sense, the Organization OF THE sensory cortex is reminiscent of the visual cortex (see Chapter 8).